Formulary Watch |

Ambulatory EHR adoption doesn’t impact total cost: Study

The use of electronic health records (EHRs) saved more than 3% in ambulatory health costs but did not reduce overall inpatient costs, according to a new study.

Guideline adds aromatase inhibitor for breast cancer prevention

The new update to the 2009 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) guideline on the pharmacologic interventions for breast cancer risk reduction now lists aromatase inhibitor exemestane (Aromasin, Pfizer) as an option for postmenopausal women for primary risk reduction that are at an increased risk of developing invasive breast cancer.

FDA asks for comments on drug importation regulations by August 12

With 40% of drugs in this country coming from other nations and 80% of active ingredient manufacturers located outside the United States, last year Congress gave FDA new powers to oversee those products.

Industry giants partner to combat illegal, online pharmacies

A nonprofit dedicated to ensuring online pharmacy safety, whose roots date back to an informal advocacy group started 4 years ago, was this week officially chartered in Washington, D.C.

Mobile app reminds patients to take their meds

According to the World Health Organization, only 50% of patients living with a chronic illness take their medication on time as directed. An American dies every 19 minutes from skipping medication or taking meds incorrectly, costing US hospitals more than $100 billion every year.

FDA approves new treatment for a type of late-stage lung cancer

FDA has approved afatinib (Gilotrif, Boehringer Ingelheim) for patients with late-stage (metastatic) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumors express specific types of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene mutations, as detected by an FDA-approved test.

FDA approves sublingual agent for treatment of opioid dependence

FDA has approved a once-daily buprenorphine/naloxone (Zubsolv, Orexo) sublingual tablet CIII for use as maintenance treatment for people with opioid dependence. It should be used as part of a complete treatment plan that includes counseling and psychosocial support.

Treatment of bipolar depression now available with Latuda approval

FDA approved two new indications for the use of lurasidone HCl (Latuda, Sunovion and Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma) as monotherapy and adjunctive therapy with either lithium or valproate, for adults with bipolar depression.

AREDS gets another look: Removing beta-carotene, adding lutein/zeaxanthin shows clear benefits

Investigators had already determined that the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) formulation slowed the progression to advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD), with a 25% decrease in the likelihood of progression to advanced AMD compared with placebo.

Underdosing in obesity-an epidemic: focus on antibiotics

Obesity is associated with an increased risk of infection. Unfortunately clinical trials examining the safety and efficacy of antibiotics in obese patients are deficient. Thus, clinicians predominately rely on pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data for appropriate antibiotic dosing. The current literature for vancomycin, aminoglycosides, beta-lactams, fluoroquinolones, linezolid, and macrolides was reviewed to evaluate appropriate dosing in obese patients. Due to the limited number of studies and various pharmacokinetic parameters of antibiotics, dosing should be based on both patient- and drug-specific factors.

Current trends in specialty drug utilization and management Payer interventions in the shadow of a burgeoning pipeline

ICORE Healthcare-a subsidiary of Magellan Pharmacy Solutions-released the latest installment of its annual Medical Pharmacy & Oncology Trend Report.1 This report is unique in that it is the only trend and spend report that looks specifically at the medical benefit, under which almost half of all specialty pharmaceutical costs are currently managed and paid. Now in its third year, the report’s findings indicate that specialty pharmaceuticals are continuing to play an increasingly large role in managed care plan budgets and are certainly deserving of the increased payer attention they are receiving.

Utilization management programs may increase appropriate use of medication and quality of healthcare

Prime Therapeutics LLC (Prime) helps people get the medicine they need to feel better and live well. The company is headquartered in St. Paul, Minn., and manages pharmacy benefits for health plans, employers, and government programs including Medicare and Medicaid. The company processes claims and delivers medicine to nearly 20 million members, offering clinical services for people with complex medical conditions. Prime is collectively owned by 13 Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans, subsidiaries or affiliates of those plans.

New molecular entity

In April 2013, FDA approved doxylamine succinate 10 mg, pyridoxine hydrochloride 10 mg (Diclegis, Duchesnay) for the treatment of nausea and vomiting in pregnant women who do not respond to conservative management. Diclegis is a delayed-release formulation combining 10 mg of the antihistamine doxylamine succinate and 10 mg of the vitamin B6 analog pyridoxine hydrochloride. This combination was once marketed in the United States as Bendectin. However, legal suits claiming related birth defects forced the manufacturer to withdraw Bendectin from the market in the 1980s. Doxylamine/pyridoxine has not been studied in women with hyperemesis gravidarum.

Four-year update shows nilotinib induces significantly deeper molecular responses than imatinib

The 4-year data from the landmark ENESTnd (Evaluating Nilotinib Efficacy and Safety in Clinical Trials – Newly Diagnosed Patients) trial continues to demonstrate the improved clinical benefit of front-line nilotinib (Tasigna) versus imatinib (Gleevec) in patients with newly diagnosed, Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in chronic phase

Nilotinib leads to sustained responses in CML patients with residual disease on imatinib

For chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients with minimal residual disease on long-term imatinib (Gleevec) therapy, switching to nilotinib (Tasigna) can lead to deep, sustained responses.

Efficacy of new drugs compared to older ones not dramatic, study says

The effectiveness of new drugs compared with that of older drugs has fallen since the 1970s, according to a new study in Health Affairs.

Men’s Health Network urges men to get HPV vaccine

The Men’s Health Network (MHN) is hoping actor Michael Douglas’ assertion that his throat cancer was caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) contracted during oral sex will provoke more males to get the HPV vaccine.

Take 2 to 3 minutes to identify CVD patients for more counseling

Face-to-face interaction between pharmacists and patients will be key to the success or failure of the federal government’s Million Hearts initiative to prevent heart attacks and strokes, Salvatore Giorgianni, PharmD, told participants during the June 3 State of Men’s Heart Webinar.

Everolimus combination prolongs PFS in HER2-positive advanced breast cancer

The addition of everolimus, an mTOR inhibitor, to trastuzumab and vinorelbine in heavily pretreated advanced breast cancer patients led to a 22% reduction in the risk of disease progression in the first phase 3 study showing that inhibition of human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 positive (HER2+) receptor and mTOR provides significant benefit in HER2+ advanced breast cancer.

Octreotide LAR extends survival in low hepatic load neuroendocrine tumors

Octreotide LAR not only prolongs time to progression (TTP) but also appears to extend overall survival (OS) in a subgroup of patients with metastatic midgut neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) and a low hepatic load.

The current state of HIV therapy [INFOGRAPHIC]

Incidence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has decreased dramatically since its emergence in the early 1980s, but it remains a worldwide epidemic. There is a reduction in newly diagnosed patients, but prevalence is increasing due to a longer life expectancy, which is attributed in part to highly effective antiretroviral therapies. Newly approved and investigational antiretroviral therapies provide additional options for the healthcare team to prevent progression of disease as well as transmission of HIV. Early detection and prevention of HIV is still paramount with the use of in-home HIV testing as well as antiretrovirals for pre-exposure prophylaxis. While many advances in HIV diagnosis and treatment have been made, the importance of education and risk avoidance cannot be underestimated.

FDA actions in brief

FDA actions in brief

FDA pipeline preview

Complete response, priority review and orphan drug designations.

Training, advising pediatricians in antibiotic usage improves compliance with prescription guidelines

Educating pediatricians in their offices, auditing their prescription patterns, and leveraging a shared electronic health record, encourages them to choose more appropriate antibiotics for children with common respiratory infections, according to a study published in the June 12 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Medicinal cannabis presents unique issues in managed care

Medicinal cannabis, despite its emerging popularity, presents unique issues to managed care and hospital decision makers. Exactly how does a quasi-legal substance, which has existed outside the sphere of mainstream medicine, become integrated into a traditional hospital and managed care setting?

FDA warns of intestinal problems with olmesartan medoxomil use

FDA issued a warning July 3 that olmesartan medoxomil, an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB), may cause sprue-like enteropathy several months to years after initiation of treatment.

Women at increased risk for opioid-related death

Opioid overdose deaths in women in the United States increased fivefold from 1999 to 2010. During the same time period, the risk of opioid pain reliever (OPR) deaths in men increased 3.6 times, according to the July 2 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

AMCP announces inaugural Nexus Conference

The Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) will be hosting a new conference, Nexus 2013, October 15-18 in San Antonio, Texas. Nexus 2013 will aim to simplify the complex healthcare system and find new and innovative solutions by bringing together people from both sides of the equation. The new conference will be replacing AMCP’s Education Conference.

Medication use report card gives Americans a C+ on adherence

There was both bad and good news from the National Community Pharmacists Association’s (NCPA) national medication adherence report card survey results released recently.

FDA approves first nonhormonal treatment for hot flashes associated with menopause

FDA has approved low-dose paroxetine capsules (Brisdelle, Noven Pharmaceuticals), 7.5 mg/day, for the treatment of moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms (VMS) associated with menopause, also referred to as hot flashes and night sweats.